Croatian Picnic brings culture, cuisine, and celebration to Krakow
- by croatiaweek
- in Entertainment
On Saturday, May 25, the Little Croatia park in Krakow hosted the fourth annual Croatian Picnic, organised in honour of Croatia’s national holiday, Statehood Day, coming up on May 30.
The event traditionally began with a vibrant procession along the Croatian Promenade, featuring Krakow residents, guests, and organisers.
Leading the procession were young people dressed in Croatian costumes, accompanied by a lively brass band.
The opening ceremony was graced by notable figures such as Tomislav Vidošević, the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia, Maria Klaman, Deputy Mayor of Krakow, Jarosław Kosek, Chairman of the Krakow City Council, and Paweł Włodarczyk, the honorary consul of the Republic of Croatia and main organizer of the picnic.
The picnic offered a variety of attractions aimed at all residents of Krakow. It was both relaxing and educational, bringing the essence of Croatia closer to the attendees. Activities included sailing competitions, various contests, swimming lessons on a sailboat, water rescue demonstrations, and numerous other attractions.
Croatian dog shows, particularly featuring Dalmatians, drew significant interest. Stalls selling Croatian dishes invited everyone to indulge in the delicious cuisine.
One highlight of the event was the joint release of balloons in the colours of Poland and Croatia, symbolising the friendship between the two nations, which captivated children especially.
Another major attraction was the slogan competition promoting holidays in Croatia.
The suspense surrounding the competition results kept many Krakow residents intrigued. The winner, Paulina from Wadowice, created the slogan “In all seasons, from morning to dusk, Croatia is full of charm,” which rhymes beautifully in Polish (“Przez wszystkie pory roku, od rana do zmroku, Chorwacja pełna jest uroku”).
Paulina was rewarded with a free week’s stay for two at the 4-star Hotel Borovnik in Tisno on the island of Murter.
Croatian music and singing filled the air throughout the picnic, culminating in a captivating hour-long concert by David Danijel, a Croatian singer from Opatija.
Over a thousand people participated in the Croatian Picnic in Krakow during the day and the organisers say they are looking forward to welcoming everyone who enjoyed this year’s Croatian Picnic back again next year.